The Creative Decoration Techniques Behind the ‘Branding Together’ Podcast Merch Collection

In January 2025, ASI and PRINTING United Alliance launched a joint monthly podcast to explore how the worlds of print and promo align, as well as to further cement the long-term partnership inked in 2024 between the two organizations. Both the name (Branding Together) and the logo (which incorporates the A from ASI and the CMYK swirl from the Alliance) reinforce our shared mission to introduce promo to the print world and vice versa while furthering the convergence of the two industries.

Throughout 2025, my co-host Cassie Green (content director of Apparelist) and I chatted with an array of suppliers, distributors, decorators and print service providers about everything from the rise of print-on-demand technology to the state of sustainability in the industry. But one key thing was missing from our monthly gabfests: some killer merch to drive home the partnership-focused podcast in a tangible way.

Luckily, we know some talented decorators and savvy suppliers willing to help.

We provided six decorators with apparel and accessories from sustainability-focused suppliers Stanley/Stella (asi/89011) and Atlantis Headwear (asi/37380). We shared the Branding Together logo as a jumping-off point to come up with creative and cohesive mini-collections of branded merch for us to wear – both on the podcast as well as in our daily lives. The only design constraint we gave them was to highlight the decoration technique we assigned: heat transfer vinyl, direct to film (DTF), direct to garment (DTG), screen printing, embroidery or dye sublimation.

Each decorator interpreted the assignment in a unique way, leaning into the strengths of their chosen technique while letting their imaginations run wild. Get inspired by the many ways our collective industries can successfully (drum roll, please) brand together.

ABOUT OUR SUPPLIERS

Styles featured in our photo shoot are:

Stella Ava (SATW033), a fitted tank top made of 100% organic cotton.
Stella Muser T-shirt (SATW002), Stanley/Stella’s bestselling women’s style.
Creator 2.0 unisex T-shirt (SATU001), made of certified organic cotton.
Freestyler unisex T-shirt (SATU018), heavyweight streetwear fit.
Stella Nora women’s hoodie (SASW035), organic cotton + recycled poly.
Cruiser 2.0 hoodie (SASU003), heavyweight fleece.
GEO bucket hat, recycled polyester.
Bryce six-panel trucker cap, recycled polyester.

When Cassie Green and I decided we wanted some Branding Together podcast merch of our very own, we made a conscious decision to reach out to suppliers with a strong, long-standing sustainability mission and mindset. That’s how we landed on Stanley/Stella and Atlantis Headwear (asi/37380).

Established in 2012 in Belgium, Stanley/Stella has been making a push into the U.S., with a local team, warehouse and offices. Between 2022 and 2024, the supplier reduced relative emissions 14.1% and is working toward a 30% reduction by 2030.

Atlantis Headwear, part of Italian Benefit Corporation Master Italia SpA, has set a goal to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions 42% by 2030, while prioritizing recycled and organic materials.

The Creative Decoration Techniques Behind the ‘Branding Together’ Podcast Merch Collection

Screen Shot

Lon Winters and the team at Graphic Elephants in Elizabeth, CO, used a variety of screen-printing techniques and garment placements to reimagine the Branding Together logo.

TIP: Surprise and delight clients with an underbelly print on the inside or a custom neck label. Private labeling gives garments a retail feel, but be sure to retain information like sizing, care instructions, country of origin and material composition if you go that route.

Hat Trick

Angie Meese of That Shirt Shack in New Philadelphia, OH, created multimedia designs, with a focus on dye sublimation, to embellish a handful of caps and bucket hats. She also engineered a special ABS plastic prototype to enable sublimation on the tops of the bucket hats.

TIP: For the most vibrant sublimated prints, choose garments and accessories that are 100% polyester or rPET. And don’t be afraid to add a little bling to liven up a flat design.

An Energetic Remix

Julia Saxon and the team at BeeGraphix in Fredericktown, PA, designed these brightly hued DTF prints to build on the concept of the “sound waves of collaboration.”

TIP: DTF transfers don’t naturally produce soft-edge fades. Use halftone dots – tiny, closely spaced dots of varying size – to create the illusion of blended colors or a glow effect.

In Stitches

Jeremy Picker of AMB3R (asi/590243) translated the Branding Together logo into thread, with Andy Shuman and the team at contract decoration shop Rockland Embroidery (asi/83089) in Topton, PA, putting Picker’s designs into production.

TIP: Faux chain stitch in a script font, as seen around the collar of the collection’s T-shirt, gives logos a romantic, retro vibe. The technique, which has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to its handmade appearance, works best with lettering that has continuous flowing strokes, avoids sharp angles and features round, looped forms.

Feline Shine

Deana Iribe of The Print Bakery/Printer Biz (A DTG Connection Company) in Riverside, CA, went for a glam look, combining detailed DTG prints of big cats with metallic foil enhancements.

TIP: Wrapping a DTG print around the side seam of a tank delivers an undeniable “wow” factor while still maintaining low consumable costs. However, it’s important to compare your design measurements and RIP software placements to the shirt width and determine how much of the design should appear on the front panel versus the back, Iribe says.

Pressed To Impress

Dan Freismuth and the team at Topshelf Printers in Greeley, CO, used a variety of specialty heat transfer materials from Stahls’ (asi/88984) to create high-impact designs.

TIP: Use a lint roller on garments before heat pressing to remove debris, lint and loose fibers. For best results, it’s also important to keep your press platen clean and free of adhesive buildup and keep designs organized and ready for pressing in a clean, dust-free area, Freismuth says.

Go Behind the Scenes

For this year’s fashion shoot in the winter issue of Counselor magazine, we asked decorators to create a cohesive mini-collection of branded merch, using garments and accessories supplied by Stanley/Stella (asi/89011) and Atlantis Headwear (asi/37380). Decorators also documented their design and production process in tutorials and reflected on the process in short video interviews.

Keep an eye out on ASI Central and Apparelist for more content from the project:

Branding Together January episode [Link to January episode of Branding Together with Jeremy Morillo of Stanley/Stella]
Branding Together January mini-episode [link to January mini-episode of Branding Together with Atlantis Headwear]
Dye sublimation tutorial from Angie Meese of That Shirt Shack [link to story on ASI]
Direct-to-garment tutorial from Deana Iribe of The Print Bakery and DTG Connection [link to story on Apparelist]
Embroidery design tips from Jeremy Picker of AMB3R Creative (asi/590243) [link to story on ASI]
Screen-printing tutorial from Lon Winters of Graphic Elephants [link to story on Apparelist]
Direct-to-film tutorial from Julia Saxon of BeeGraphix [link to story on ASI]
Heat transfer tutorial from Topshelf Printers [Link to story on Apparelist]

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